Danny Aquino
REPRESENTATIVE Danny Aquino on Thursday said an increased number of leave hours will put CNMI servicemembers “at ease” when called upon to serve.
Aquino authored House Bill 24-54, which unanimously passed the House recently and is now with the Senate. The bill would increase to 30 the number of military leave days available to CNMI government employees, to include Federal Emergency Management Agency reservists under President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14052, which counts them as military reservists.
In an interview, Aquino, who previously served as special assistant for military affairs, said the CNMI statute currently allows only 15 days of military leave. Then-Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, through an executive order, increased it to 30 days, and the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios followed through by issuing a similar executive order.
Aquino noted that in the U.S., state governments have also expanded military leave for their servicemembers. In Arizona and Texas, for example, military leave was increased to 30 days.
“I’m very grateful for the overwhelming support from the House, and I sincerely hope that the Senate will pass this important legislation,” Aquino said, adding that H.B. 24-54 will put CNMI military reservists, FEMA reservists, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s commissioned officers at ease when called upon to serve.
The measure, he said, affirms the CNMI’s commitment to supporting citizen soldiers and emergency responders who bear dual responsibilities to their nation and their communities. The expanded eligibility and increased duration of their paid leave benefits will ensure that the CNMI government remains a fair, supportive, and mission-ready employer in line with the evolving expectations of federal law and national service, Aquino said.
